NCC unveils device checker, code ‘*315#’ to safeguard consumers, boost QoS - ITREALMS

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially unveiled the Device Checker initiative, introducing the shortcode *315# as part of its ongoing drive to protect consumers, eliminate unapproved hardware, and optimize Quality of Service (QoS) across national telecommunications networks, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Director and Zonal Controller of the NCC Lagos Zonal Office, Mr. Tunji Jimoh, emphasized that the Device Checker is a consumer-centric initiative designed to verify device type-approval before purchase without compromising user privacy.

Addressing industry stakeholders and members of the press during the launch event, Mr. Jimoh clarified that the system operates strictly within a regulatory and quality-assurance mandate.

"The Device Checker is engineered purely as a tool for equipment compliance, consumer protection, and network safety. It is not a surveillance platform," Mr. Jimoh stated. "Its primary purpose limit is to ensure that mobile equipment connected to local networks meets mandatory national safety, technical, and radio-frequency standards."

Also speaking, Engr. Kings Adeyemi, Assistant Director and Head of Wireless Network, Technical Standards & Network Integrity Department, reiterated that Type Approval remains a mandatory pre-market condition under Nigerian communications law.

"The Commission reiterates that Type Approval remains a mandatory pre-market condition. Manufacturers, importers, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must continue to submit technical test reports and device samples to the NCC before mass importation or retail distribution in Nigeria."

Engr. Adeyemi noted that while Type Approval handles pre-market quality control, the new Device Checker provides real-time post-market enforcement, empowering network operators and end-users to confirm that active hardware complies fully with equipment standards.

By enabling consumers to check a handset’s compliance before making a purchase, the Commission aims to curb the influx of counterfeit, substandard, and non-type-approved devices that contribute heavily to network interference, dropped calls, and degraded service delivery.

Under the framework, mobile subscribers in Nigeria can instantly verify a device’s status by dialing *315# on any operational network tower or accessing the verification portal online via
verifymydevice.gov.ng.

The system queries the central Device Management System Architecture (DMSA) database, which acts as the national Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR); to confirm whether a device's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) corresponds with a genuine, NCC Type-Approved model.

The EVC assured the public that active handsets already connected to Nigerian networks prior to the deployment phase have been automatically grandfathered into the database, ensuring zero service disruption for existing subscribers.

The unveiling ceremony featured key regulatory officers from the Lagos Zonal Office and core technical departments of the Commission, who joined Mr. Jimoh including Mrs. Tolulase Omodele-Rufai, Deputy Director and Team Lead, Regulatory Services, Lagos Zonal Office; Engr. Kings Adeyemi, Assistant Director and Head, Wireless Network, Technical Standards & Network Integrity Department; Mrs. Temitope Alli-Balogun, Assistant Director and Team Lead, Support Services, Lagos Zonal Office.

The regulator stressed that importers, distributors, and retailers are required to verify their stock and obtain appropriate Sales & Installation licenses to maintain supply chain transparency.

With the *315# deployment, the NCC hands real-time verification capability directly to the consumer, strengthening supply chain integrity and advancing the digital economy goals of the Federal Government.